Source: UNICEF, Survey on early pregnancy, Brazzaville, 1996.
Ignorance of the cycle always comes out on top (from 50 to 75%) when girls are classified
according to their level of education at the time of pregnancy.
Ignorance spans across several areas: sexuality, puberty, the menstrual cycle, contraceptive
methods and pregnancy. It is even bewildering.
Table No. 39 Level information about sexuality, puberty, the menstrual cycle, contraceptive
methods and pregnancy
Areas of
information
Level of
information
Sexuality
Puberty
Menstrual cycle
Contraceptive methods
Pregnancy
Total
Good
knowledge
0
0
0
0
0
Some
1
2
30
12
4
Heard
about it
27
23
32
19
15
Not at all
74
77
40
71
93
102
102
102
102
102
Source: UNICEF, Survey of early pregnancy, Brazzaville, 1996.
The table shows in terms of knowledge on the evolution of the psychology of the child in
puberty that only 2% of the girls had a chance to be informed, slightly.
At the onset of first menstruation that scare the girl, mother or another female relative feels
compelled to explain what is happening just to reassure her. Knowledge of the cycle is not
mastered: not one girl has a good knowledge. However, 30% have some knowledge and 32%
have heard of it.
As for contraceptive methods that prevents an unwanted pregnancy, they are little known and
certainly little used. 70% of girls do not know anything at all about them, that is a little more
than 2/3 and only 12% who have some knowledge about it.
Pregnancy which is part of the girl’s life, it is often approached without knowing how it
occurs and evolves, as well as the precautions and risks related to childbirth. Girls only
benefited from observing a pregnant relative. 93% have never had information on the issue,
15% have heard and 4% have some knowledge of it.
It is therefore not surprising that when pregnancy occurs there is a total ignorance.
2 -2 Deprivation of channels and effective and efficient information networks
Given the confidentiality and taboos surrounding the subject, the young girls’ most
appreciated counsellors and advisors are mothers, sisters, other trusted close or distant
relatives or friends from school and from the neighbourhood. According to the quantitative
survey on teenage pregnancy involving 500 students from 13 to 18 years, in schools, the main
parties involved in discussions about sex in the home are:
Table 40: Preferred interlocutors regarding sexuality
118